Frequently Asked Questions

What is NExSS?

The Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) is a research coordination network dedicated to the study of planetary habitability. The goals of NExSS are to study the diversity of exoplanets; learn about how their history, geology, and climate interact to create conditions for life; and accelerate the discovery and characterization of other potentially life-bearing worlds in the galaxy, using a systems science approach. Researchers in the network aim to understand where habitable niches are most likely to occur – that is, which planets are most likely to be habitable.

NExSS is led by Natalie Batalha of NASA’s Ames Research Center, Dawn Gelino of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI), and Anthony del Genio of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The NExSS network include team members from 10 different universities and two research institutes. These teams were selected from proposals submitted across NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

Why was NExSS created?

NASA’s Kepler mission has revealed that the Milky Way may be home to billions of Earth-sized planets orbiting in the habitable zone of their host stars. Thus, the possibility of finding life beyond Earth looms larger on the horizon. NExSS aims to play a role in advancing exoplanet science research, broadening opportunities for scientists in the U.S. to engage in this type of interdisciplinary research,.

How was NExSS created?

The idea for NExSS was first presented to NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver in 2013 as a prospective Agency Grand Challenge. It was not selected at that time. However, the idea was proposed to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate leadership in summer 2014, briefed to the National Research Council’s Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences (CAPS) at public meetings in December 2014 and March 2015, and presented to the NASA Exoplanets Assessment Group at its January 2015 meeting. All endorsed the idea.

All four of NASA’s science divisions – astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science – routinely issue solicitations for research proposals (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences, or ROSES). Proposals are peer reviewed, and the best are selected for funding. To create NExSS, NASA identified teams with synergistic research interests that were already funded by grants awarded through ROSES competitions. (Specific solicitations included a NASA Astrobiology Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice, Planetary Science and Astrophysics Division components of the Exoplanet Research Program, the Astrophysics Theory and Astrophysics Data Analysis Programs, and the Heliophysics Division’s Living With a Star Program).

What are the scientific goals of NExSS?

NExSS teams will help classify the diversity of worlds being discovered, understand the potential habitability of these worlds, and develop tools and technologies needed in the search for life beyond Earth. Scientists are developing ways to identify habitable environments on these worlds and search for biosignatures, or signs of life. Upcoming NASA missions such as the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will add to the census of exoplanets. Central to the work of NExSS is understanding how biology interacts with the atmosphere, surface, oceans, and interior of a planet, and how these interactions are affected by the host star.

How can I be part of NExSS?

NExSS is all about community involvement, collaboration, and cooperation. We will be announcing future workshops, and other activities on this webpage as our plans take shape.

Will there be any future NExSS proposal calls?

Future calls depend on the success of the NExSS pilot endeavor.

This website is being run by Knowinnovation Inc. and is supported by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI). LPI is operated by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) under a cooperative agreement with NASA. The purpose of this site is to facilitate communication from and between scientists that are part of the Nexus for Exoplanet Systems Science (NExSS). Although NExSS is led by researchers whose funding comes from NASA, NExSS is a community endeavor. As such, any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.